Collis P. Huntington was tireless at making things and money. He's also said to have been a jerk. When Collis died he left his railroad fortune to his nephew. Henry soon began amassing a collection of irreplaceable books and art. Then he married Arabella Huntington, his uncle's widow, who was quite the collector herself.

That photo is so dramatic and lush! Apparently the two Huntingtons built collections and improved the Huntington "ranch" with the sole intention of opening it to the public. As an aside, Arabella was going blind due to the belladona drops she used to keep her eyes bright. So Huntington planted the rose garden just so she could enjoy the ranch through scent.

I couldn't help but laugh at your snobs comment. Until we change the class system in the UK these simple requests will always be denied. The image is indeed magical and the text so interesting. I believe that bloggers are becoming the real or at least alternative historians.